Zachanonymous

I was out for a morning ride the other day and less than 2 miles from town I blew a tube after having ran over something.

I went out to walmart and bought 3 Bell 700c Tubes.

That having been said, what do you guys reccommend? My tires were only pumped to 90psi, but after I ran over something it didn't stand much of a chance.

Should I a) lose weight b) buy a better tube c) ride slower

No seriously, it might of been bad luck, but I haven't even put 200 miles on these tires yet.

black_box 

Michelin, the ones that have a smooth shaft for the valve (so it doesn't eat the rubber seal on the pumps).

10 Wheels

164 flats on the road.

I buy tires and tubes ahead of time On Sale.

GrizzledBastard

I buy mine from Art's Cyclery since I live near their operation but they're offered online as well. They almost always have a 5 for $20 deal and sometimes it's 5 for $15. I always get the removable presta core type and the last batch I bought were Cannondale tubes.

fietsbob

continental and schwalbe..

Zachanonymous

Well I guess I've just been "fortunate" so far.. My old Nishiki I rode in Highschool tacked on a few thousand miles on only a hand full of replacement tubes.

I will definitely make sure to look into those michellins.. I just bought a new pump and don't quite feel like tearing it up.
Thanks for the advice!!

DrIsotope

Giant, Freedom, Bell, Cannondale, Sunlite, Michelin... just off the top of my head. None better than any others, though for the on-the-road-in-the-bag spare, I strongly prefer the Cannondales. Smooth valve, removable core, comes in a shrink wrap so it fits easier in the bag.

Maelochs

Cheap.

Unless you race, tubes are valuable to the degree to which they don't leak and if they do due to external factors, can be painlessly replaced.

On the bike a $7 tube works the same as a $2 tube for all but competition purposes--but the $2 tube works better economically. Save the cash and buy better tires.

sevenmag

This.

I'm not married to any particular brands on either tires or tubes. Trust and believe that tires are not going to make me any faster or slower.

KLiNCK

GlennR

I buy Zipp online because the stem length is perfect for the Zipp 303 I have. I get them for $15 for a pair shipped so they're cheap enough.

In the past I used Bontrager tubes with good results. I got them at the lbs and they weren't any cheaper than the Zipps.

aubiecat

I use Continental tubes. I'll throw in a couple of them ahead of time when I order something from Ribble. They are pretty cheap from there.

andr0id

Forte tubes are good enough for me. Buy 3, get 1 free.

FeltF2Tarmac

I use Vittoria latex or Zipp.

FullGas

Kenda smooth stems are my go-to.

bought a case of Forte' tubes, 7 of 12 failed at the base of the stem...total junk.

Sy Reene

Don't all shafts have threads for the little plastic cap? I don't think my pump head extends further than these threads anyway, so not sure I understand the fear of threaded shafts?

Zachanonymous

The valve stem cap is the smaller shaft, at least on Bell tubes.

Also is 2225mm an accurate measurement for circumference of a 27" diameter tire at 25c width? Feedback here would be greatly appreciated.

And... In reguards to those smooth stemed, Thanks for the input, I never knew those existed..

cyclebycle13

The cap threads on valve stem. I belive the threaded shafts are the ones that are threaded all the way down to the base of the tube.

Some tubes have removable valve cores as well. Many pump head seals can be destroyed by those threaded stems.


Back on topic-- I use continental GP4000 IIs tires and latex tubes (usually vittoria)

Sy Reene

Understood.. what I'm saying is that I didn't think pump heads' gaskets/seals attach any further down the shaft than the threads that are already there to hold the caps anyway. So the threads that go all the way down would be irrelevant anyway.

StephenH

I buy whatever brand the store I'm in sells, not a lot of difference that I'm aware of.
On Walmart tubes, check that the valve stems are long enough to work in your rims, otherwise, I'd expect them to be fine.
I doubt the tube blowing when you ran oversomething was the fault of the tube. The tube's job is to hold air, the tire's job is to protect the tube. So if you're poking holes in a tire, that's a tire issue, not a tube issue.

Mulberry20

I like the Conti's in 42MM stem but I like the Michelin's in the 40MM smooth stem even more. Anyone with a Silca pump can attest to the wrestling match getting the chuck off a threaded stem.

Use a tire that is more puncture resistant. No tube made is strong enough to resist something that can go through even the worst tire.

ahanulec

I buy whatever the LBS has on hand that fits. Interestingly enough their price has always beat even the big box stores.

I've only had a problem once that I can recall where a tube wouldn't hold air out of the box. Their so cheap I don't care either way as long as I'm not stranded because of it.

rmfnla

Specialized.

I wait for their 2 for 1 sales and stock up...

dksix

I didn't have any luck with the Bell tubes from Walmart. I used Kenda tubes without issue. All of my current tubes are Continental and when I order more they will be the same.

dmanthree

Vittoria latex in the summer, and Continental Race Light when I switch to the Conti GP 4 Season tires for durability during the cold and dark months. I switch because I truly hate flatting when it below 45F.

But those latex tubes sure ride nice. The lose air quickly, but it's worth it.